My Little Snap Bean, Zydeco for Children is a true collaboration of authentic zydeco music made specifically for children.   The project is created by New Orleans’ renown children’s musician, author, poet and illustrator Johnette Downing together with Lafayette’s Grammy-nominated zydeco ensemble Nathan Williams and the Zydeco Cha Chas – who themselves have a four-decade history as one of SW Louisiana’s top ambassadors in bringing Acadiana’s rich Creole music and cultural traditions to the world.

The idea for the project grew from the 40-year friendship and working relationship between Nathan and the LPs multi-Grammy winning co-producer Scott Billington.   Scott and Nathan first worked together on Nathan’s 1989 debut album, Steady Rock and that relationship continued with Billington producing six more albums with Nathan which helped cement the Zydeco Cha Chas reputation among SW Louisiana’s top zydeco artists. Occasionally, Scott has also toured as a member of Nathan’s band for national and international festival events as well as for the historic Rounder Records 50^th Anniversary celebration at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry.

Johnette, Nathan, and Scott have collaborated once before, with Nathan guesting on Johnette’s Jumpin’ Jitters, It’s Halloween children’s album.  The synergy on that project was so natural that the three were inspired to continue onward – leading to the creation of this exciting My Little Snap Bean zydeco album for children.

The songs on the album are almost all new originals, including three that are adapted from Johnette’s books such as “My Parrain is the Loup Garou”.   Additionally, other songs reach back to the earliest days of zydeco , the a cappella style known as juré, and many nod to the New Orleans’ and SW Louisiana’s deep Creole traditions.

This My Little Snap Bean collaboration with Johnette and the Zydeco Cha Chas is available for stand alone bookings at festivals, schools and theaters for the 2026-2027 season and is also available as a workshop/residency addition to Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas’ general festival, university and performing arts engagements.